Communities Get Assistance to Curb Lead Poisoning

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention is awarding more than $300,000 to Healthy Maine Partnerships to help keep children and their families safe from lead.The majority of funding will be going to Bangor, Biddeoford/Saco, Lewiston/Auburn, Portland and Sanford. According to state toxicologist Dr. Andrew Smith, 40% of Maine children with lead poisoning live in these five communities.Healthy Maine Partnerships will work with landlords who own older buildings to help reduce exposure to lead, which includes providing free lead dust testing.